The GE plant was constructed in 1953-55, with an expansion in 1960, and
covers over 25 acres along the South River in Waynesboro. The plant resulted from GE de-centralizing
its northeast U.S. operations and was built for the engineering, design, and manufacture of cutting-edge
electronics. Staff there were responsible for developing breakthrough technologies
for military applications, space travel, and computers. The plant also manufactured equipment
for commercial and military aircraft, relays that enabled communication between space vehicles and their
command centers, and early computer equipment, among other products. The plant is notable as
well for its former vice-president Dr. Louis T. Rader, a pioneer in
computing technology. In the late 1950s, Rader used his influence as a widely respected business
executive to help end Virginia’s policy of “massive resistance” to school desegregation. He toured the state
as an advocate for reopening Virginia’s public schools, asserting that the state was risking economic prosperity
by closing public schools to avoid integration. He even threatened to close Virginia’s GE plants if the policy
persisted.